Dr. Wendy L. Ostroff to hold first Japan seminar series

Dr. Wendy L. Ostroff, a professor of cognitive and developmental sciences and department chair at Sonoma State University, will hold her first seminar series in Japan from October 27 to 31, 2026.

The seminars, themed ‘The Importance of Curiosity in the AI Era,’ will take place across three venues in Tokyo and Shizuoka. Organized jointly by the Japan Association for the Promotion of Art Education (JEARA) and Chikyujinmura, the sessions aim to explore curiosity as a driving force for learning from the perspectives of developmental psychology and cognitive science.

In Tokyo, sessions targeting parents and educators will focus on how children’s wonder, discovery, and questioning lead to proactive learning. In Shizuoka, the seminar will address human resource development and organizational management, discussing the role of curiosity in helping employees think and act independently.